Voices

Let's look beyond the prostitutes

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-05-25 08:05

The closure of the Heaven Earth Nightclub for at least 10 days indicates the authorities' zero tolerance of underground gangs, says Bai Yansong, a CCTV commentator.

Bai says the move is more than a showcase of Beijing's new police chief but is part of what is necessary to build the city into a great capital.

The nightclub has long been notorious for the extravagant consumption that goes on inside and alleged illegal activities, such as the providing of sexual services.

It comes as no surprise that its suspension has triggered hot debate among the public and media.

Some of the voices, however, have reflected an unhealthy viewpoint.

Before operation of the club was suspended, some media groups were zealous in gossiping about the extravagance and mysterious background of the nightclub. Now, they are focusing their attention on the prostitutes said to have worked in the club.

They devote a good deal of enthusiasm in detailing the facial appearance, clothes, living habits and incomes of the so-called top 10 prostitutes. Some have gone so far as to connect prostitutes with the housing prices in the city, claiming that they are the main reason behind the fast-rising cost of housing, suggesting that when they are chased out of the city, the housing prices will fall.

To attract eyeballs, some put pictures of innocent girls on the web, claiming they were sex workers in the nightclub.

Historically, in China, females have been blamed for disasters and chaos. In a modern society, such logic should be rooted out.

Prostitutes themselves are the victims in the crime of trading power for money.

Prostitutes are not the original sinners.

If we trace the original sins, we should ask why such an industry as prostitution should exist? Who were the consumers in these venues who dropped such large sums of money without the blink of an eye?

And, when the dust has settled, we should also ask if the Heaven Earth Nightclub will resume its original operation in a few months. Will other nightclubs take the place of the Heaven Earth Nightclub and continue to provide a hotbed for corruption and other illegal activities? And will the protection umbrella over such evil places be checked and punished?

It would be wrong if the media attention stopped at the discussion of a single group of people, even if they are prostitutes.

Zero tolerance should extend to all evil phenomena, injustice and loopholes in the legal and social systems.

Excerpts of a comment that appeared in the Mirror Evening News on May 21.